10 SECRETS TO A BESTSELLER: AN AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING

Written by Tim McConnehey

McConnehey provides all the essentials for the budding author. He writes in an easy-to-follow style that is more readable than most how-to books.

The author states exactly what he will be covering at the beginning of the book.

Can you turn your great idea into a book?   
What are the steps you need to take, and in what order?
How do you complete your book?    
What resources do you need: a cover designer? Editor? Fact checker?    
How do you distribute your book, and how do you make sure people know it’s out there?
How much should you sell it for?

He also suggests using his company, Izzard Ink, as a hybrid publisher for those who find the process too arduous a task to tackle alone.

I would have found this book extremely useful at the outset of my writing journey and would recommend it as a good tool for the new writer.

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Guerilla Publishing: a sleaze-free guide to publishing and marketing

Written by Derek Murphy

I have read quite a few books offering publishing advice to independent authors. This one filled in some of the blanks about my still unanswered questions.

Most new and independent authors worry incessantly about marketing and spend too much time on it. I will admit to being guilty on that count. Murphy believes authors should spend more of their time and resources writing. He believes the only two things an author should worry about are visibility and conversion. Getting your book in front of the right readers is more important than spinning your wheels using every available marketing tool available.

Before writing authors need to do preparation. Rather than write about what they want, do research, and find genres that will sell. Of course, one still needs to balance that with the need to enjoy writing in that area. Answering who, what, when and where to find your target readers and how to write the best story that appeals to their needs are the next steps.

Murphy discusses the kinds of errors authors make and how to fix them. Then he provides links to problem solve embedded in the text. This allows the reader to go straight to the source and find information about how to fix them. Practical advice on layout, formatting, book covers, and options for distribution are clearly presented. The necessary skills of locating the best keywords, categories, and book reviewers are explained and examples given. Finally, launching the book and getting the sales you need are handled, as well as editing and making changes.

There is a free download to a companion workbook to implement strategies and an invitation to join The Guerilla Publishing Facebook Group in which authors share problems and offer solutions to each other as they come across them.

I would highly recommend this book to fledgling authors as well as experienced authors. After seven years in publishing, I still have much to learn. This book will become part of my toolkit.

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For today’s linky, I would like to share my review of this quick read about working with an editor.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

How to Work with an Editor: A Guide for (Nervous) Authors

Written by Mark Dawson and Jennifer McIntyre

This book covers the basics. As the title implies, it is a good choice for new writers. Topics covered include who should seek an editor, the types of editing that may be needed, how to find an editor, what questions to ask, and how much one can expect to pay.

There is a section on frequently asked questions and several appendices that provide examples of pieces that were edited. I recommend the book as a quick read for writers who are looking for basic information without superfluous material.

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